A BOWLING alley worker from Bolton has won a 'phenomenal battle' against obesity to lose eight stone in eight months.

Less than eight months ago Sanjai Doctor had ballooned to 23 stone after a stressful job in hospitality and late nights caused weight gain.

Drinking an average 28 cans of fizzy pop and 30 pints a week, his health and social life took a nose dive until the 43-year-old from Deane decided to make a change.

He said: "I was stressed a lot with work and would often not go to bed until two or three in the morning.

"Eating was a comfort for me as it took the stress away and it would make me feel better.

"I had back pain and I was having pain in my ankles from the weight.

"I was referred to a physiotherapist and had ultra sound treatment as the pain was unbearable.

"I couldn’t sleep as I would stop breathing if I lay on my front due to the pressure on my internal organs."

Sanjai, who lives with his wife Pip and 13-year-old daughter Leonie, was working as a food and beverage manager at the hotel and was surrounded by food on a regular basis.

Working hours meant not getting home till late, often eating just before bed.

As well as drinking up to 10 pints of lager a night and four large measures of whisky with coke, on average three nights a week, his daily diet consisted of three of slices cheese on toast with pint of milk for breakfast, fish and chips or fast food with two cans of pop for lunch, takeaway with another two cans of fizzy drink for dinner and snacks of crisps, chocolates and biscuits throughout the day.

The weight not only caused him discomfort but destroyed his social life as he shunned going out in favour of staying at home alone.

Finding clothes that would fit him was also a real issue, and Sanjai felt that when did would go out people would be laughing at his size.

In July 2015, he weighed 23 stone, with a 50 inch waist and 56 inch chest.

As his family grew increasingly concerned, Sanjai decided enough was enough and started going to Bolton-based gym, Xercise4Less.

After being spotted by personal trainer Danny Madden, the pair teamed up to help the dad reach a healthy 15 stone and drop 14 inches off his waist.

In the meantime Sanjai also said goodbye to his job in hospitality to become assistant manager at The Original Bowling Company at Hollywood Bowl, Bolton.

Danny added: "When I met Sanjai he was a large man with insecurities about his weight but he was determined to lose weight so I was determined to help him reach his target, a target that I kept changing to push him harder.

"Sanjai never strayed from his diets and followed the programmes I set religiously he has dropped over eight stone and his fitness level is phenomenal. I'm very proud of him and always look forward to our next session."

Sanjai's diet saw him swap fast food and fizz for fruit, chicken, tuna and rice cake snacks, as well as waving goodbye to the pints in favour of vodka with soda water.

And following the weight loss he is continuing his good work, with his sights now set on toning up and body building under his trainer's guidance.